Margaret Wildman

Screen and television actress. Born Margaret Elizabeth Sheridan, she is best known for her portrayal of Nikki in the science fiction classic "The Thing From Another World" (1951), which gained her notoriety propelling her towards a measure of fame during a short career in the 1950's and early 1960's. Born to Thomas J. and Julia P. Sheridan, her early working career included that as a hostess of the Flying Tiger Airlines and also as a top-ranking fashion model. While in college, her picture on a magazine cover attracts the attention of producer-director Howard Hawks who put her under a 5 year contract in 1950 . Her next film after "The Thing..." was "One Minute to Zero" (1952) opposite Robert Mitchum, followed by "I, The Jury" (1953). In 1953, London publicists gave her big star treatment , who is there to co-star with Dennis O'Keefe in the first 3-D picture to be made in England, "The Diamond", later titled "The Diamond Wizard"(1954) in America. Her next significant film was "Pride of the Blue Grass" (1954) with Lloyd Bridges and, lastly, a final screen appearance in "Man's Favorite Sport"(1964) with Rock Hudson. Television credits - spanning from 1952 to 1964 - included The Bomb, Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre, Wagon Train, Four Star Playhouse, City Detective and The Adventures of Ellery Queen. Retrospectively, of infamous note, director Hawks offered Sheridan the female lead opposite John Wayne in the 1948 film "Red River". Sheridan turned down the role because she was expecting the birth of her first child. It was devotion to family that rendered her a relatively brief career, with two marriages: first to William F. Pattison, an air transport pilot with whom she had a daughter, and then to attorney Paul Wellington Wildman, resulting in two more daughters. Following her acting career, she was heavily involved in fund raising for charities in the late 1960's. , followed one year later by the passing of her husband Paul.